Counting devices



Sept. 22, 1970 G. A. HowARD GOUNTING DEVIGESy 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 6, 1968 Munn,

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COUNTING DEVICES Filed Aug. 6, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 22, 1970 G. A. HOWARD 3,529,769

EVICES COUN 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 6, 1968 Han/Afa Mm f @A m ww @n @a United States Patent O 3,529,769 COUNTING DEVICES George A. Howard, Enfield, England, assignor to English Numbering Machines Limited, Enfield, Middlesex, England, a British company Filed Aug. 6, 1968, Ser. No. 750,625 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Aug. 16, 1967, 37,591/ 67 Int. Cl. G06c 15/42 U.S. Cl. 235-144 10 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to a counting device including a plurality of number wheels and associated transfer pinions for providing transfer from one number wheel to the next higher number wheel when said one number wheel passes through a predetermined position. A locating means is provided comprising a number of slotted lugs whose slots receive marginal edge portions of the pinions. The spacing between the lugs locate the associated number wheels. Resetting arms may be provided which are associated with the lugs for resetting the number wheels by means of resetting cams thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a counting device comprises a plurality of number wheels, movement transfer means between each pair of adjacent number wheels, and means for securing the Correct relative positions of said number wheels and said movement transfer means,

Preferably the position securing means comprises an integral member having a plurality of rst recesses engaged by the number wheels and a plurality of second recesses engaged by said movement transfer means.

Further according to the invention, a counting device comprises a plurality of number wheels mounted for rotation about a common axis, one or more transfer pinions mounted for rotation on a shaft and arranged to mesh with gear means carried by the number wheels for effecting digit transfers and means for locating the transfer pinions and the corresponding number wheels with respect to each other.

Preferably the locating means includes two or more lugs having slots formed therein for engaging portions of the pinions so as to locate the pinions on the shaft in the axial direction. The lugs may be spaced apart by a distance such that opposite sides of adjacent lugs engage portions of corresponding number wheels thereby locating 3,529,769 Patented Sept. 22, 1970 the number wheels in the axial direction. Brackets may be provided for supporting the pinion shaft, the lugs being carried by the brackets. The brackets and lugs may be formed in one piece as a single unit.

Resetting arms associated with the lugs may be provided for resetting the number wheels. The brackets may be pivotally mounted on spindles for simultaneous movement about the spindles, pivotal movement of the brackets about the spindles in one direction causing the resetting arms to engage corresponding resetting cams carried by the number wheels and causing the transfer pinions to be disengaged from the number wheels, and' pivotal movement in the opposite direction causing the resetting arms to disengage the resetting cams and causing the transfer pinions to re-engage the number wheels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is split plan View of a mechanical counting device having six number wheels;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line II-II 0f FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the parts in different positions; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the locating member for the number wheels and transfer pinions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown a counting device having six number wheels 1 to 6 and five transfer pinions 7 to 11 and a drive pinion 12. In the lower halt` of FIG. l, the number wheels have been omitted so that the pinions can be seen. The number wheels 1 to 6 are mounted for free rotation on a shaft 14 carried by a frame 29 of the device, the transfer and drive pinions being mounted for free rotation on a shaft 15. Adjacent the number wheel 6, which indicates the lowest decade of the count, is a worm wheel 16 which meshes with a worm (not shown), by means of which, drive is transmitted to the counting device.

The worm wheel 16 is provided with a plurality of worm engaging teeth 1-7 and gear teeth 18 meshing with gear teeth 19 on the drive pinion 12. The drive pinion 12 transmits the drive by means of gear teeth 20 meshing with gear teeth 22 in the number wheel 6.

The number wheel 6 has, on its edge opposite to the gear teeth 22, two teeth 23 which engage, once during each rotation of the wheel 6, with teeth 25 and 26 on the transfer pinion 11. This engagement is normally set to take place to move the transfer pinion 11 when the number wheel 6 moves from 9 to 0. The teeth 25 (which are longer than the teeth 26) on the transfer pinion 11 engage a rim 27 on the number wheel 6 and prevent rotation of the transfer pinion until the pinion is engaged again by the teeth 23.

The transfer pinion 11 is provided with gear teeth 28 on the opposite side to the teeth 25 and 26 which teeth 28 mesh with the gear teeth 22 of the number wheel 5.

The number wheels 2 to 6 are identical and thus all have the gear teeth 22 on one side and the double teeth 23 and the rim 27 on the other side. The teeth 23 and 3 rim 27 may be omitted from the number wheel 1, since they are not required, but, if desired, these features may be retained for ease of manufacture. The transfer pinions 7 to 11 are also identical and thus have long teeth 25, short teeth 26 and gear teeth 28.

Location of the number wheels and transfer pinions relative to each other is carried out by means of a locating member 100; see also FIG. 4. The locating member 100 comprises a single piece of plastics moulding which is supported by means of brackets 101 provided with bosses 102 through each of which passes a spindle 103 (FIG. 2 and 3). The spindles 103 are carried by the frame 29 (FIG. 1). The brackets 101 are provided with elongated apertures 104 for the shaft 15 carrying the transfer and drive pinions 7 to 12. The member 100 is formed with six lugs 106 having slots 107 therein for receiving peripheral portions 32 of the transfer pinions which as can be seen extend radially beyond the teeth thereof. The transfer pinions are thus located axially.

The recesses between the lugs 106 receive the number wheels 2 to 6, opposite edges of adjacent lugs engaging marginal edge portions of the number wheels as can be seen in FIG. 1. In this way the number wheels 2 to 6 are located axially and in relation to their associated transfer pinions. The number wheel 1 is located between one side of the end lug 106 and the frame 29.

Reset arms 109 extend as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 from the upper surface of each lug 106 to cooperate with heart-shaped resetting cams 33 on the number wheels.

A spring 35 is provided which engages square bosses 36 on the transfer pinions 7 to 12 whose shaft 15 is movable to an extent limited by elongated apertures 104 and spring 35 urges the pinions into correct engagement with gear teeth 22 carried by the number wheels.

A control button (not shown) is provided for resetting purposes, the shank 37 of which slides in guides 38 in the frame 29 and carries the end of the shaft 15 therein.

The operation of the counting device will now be described.

The device shown is a six digit counting device and may, for example, count from O to 999999.

In operation the worm of the device is connected to the drive providing the count, and as the worm turns it turns the worm wheel 16 through its teeth 17. The gear teeth 18 4mesh with the gear teeth 19 of the drive pinion 12 which drives the number wheel 6 through the gear teeth and 22. In this Way the number wheel 6 begins the count.

When the number wheel 6 reaches 9, its teeth 23 engage the teeth and 26 of the transfer pinion 11 and partially rotate this .transfer pinion through an arc corresponding to one digit of the number wheel 5. The

transfer pinion 11 drives the number wheel 5 through corresponding gear teeth 20 and 22. In this way transfers are made between one number wheel and the next when said one number wheel passes from 9 to 0.

The operating position of the parts of the counting device is shown in PIG. 2 in which as can be seen in FIG. 1, the number wheels and the transfer pinions are axially located by the lugs 106.

After a desired count, the number wheels can be reset using the push button (not shown) operating the shank 37. When the push button is depressed the shank 37 slides downwards (into the paper in FIG. 1) and, because it is attached to the shaft 15 carrying the transfer pinions, it will cause the locating member 100 to pivot about its spindles 103 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3.

This action disengages the transfer pinions from the number wheels and moves the resetting arms 109 inwardly to engage the resetting cams 33./ The arms 109 exert pressure on the cams which, due to their heart shape, will turn their associated number wheels in either direction through no more than 180 to a starting position when the reset arm enters the cam slot (FIG. 3).

It will be seen particularly from FIG. 3 that the locating action of the member continues during the movement of the member 100.

After resetting, the button can be returned to its original position, for example under the action of a spring, thus returnnig the locating member to its original position (FIG. 2) reengaging the transfer pinions With the number wheels for the start of a new count.

As can be seen, the locating member 100 provides 1ocation for the transfer pinions as well as for the number wheels both during counting and during resetting so that they are always maintained axially in correct relationship to each other.

Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment. For example fewer or more number wheels may be provided. The locating member may be cast, sintered, machined from a metal block or pressed from sheet metal. It may alternatively be constructed of separate pieces assembled together to form an integral unit. Thus the lugs and reset arms could be separately constructed. The counting device could be constructed for operation other than as a decade counter, providing for example non decimal counts. Any suitable drive may be used for driving the first number wheel (6).

I claim:

1. A counting device comprising a plurality of number wheels, movement -transfer means between each pair of adjacent number wheels, and means for maintaining said number wheels and said movement transfer means in their correct relative positions, said position maintaining means comprising an integral member having a plurality of first recesses engaged by said number wheels, and a plurality of second recesses engaged by said movement transfer means.

2. A counting device comprising a plurality of number wheels mounted for rotation about a common axis, gear means carried by said number wheels, a shaft, at least one transfer pinion mounted for rotation on said shaft and arranged to mesh with said gear means for effecting digit transfer, and integral means provided with recesses for locating said -transfer pinion and said number wheels with respect to each other.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said locating means includes at least two lugs having slots formed therein to constitute pinion-engaging recesses for locating the pinion on said shaft in the axial direction.

4. A device as dened in claim 3, wherein said lugs are spaced apart by a distance such that opposite sides of adjacent lugs engage portions of said number wheels thereby locating said number wheels in the axial direction.

5. A device as defined in cla'im 4, and further comprising brackets for supporting said shaft, said lugs being carried by said brackets.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said brackets and said lugs are formed in one piece as a single unit.

7. A .device as defined in claim 5, and further comprising resetting arms associated with said lugs for resetting said number wheels.

8. A device as defined in claim 7, and further comprising resetting cams carried by said number wheels, a frame and spindles on said frame, said brackets being pivotally mounted on said spindles for simultaneous movement about said spindles, pivotal movement of said brackets about said spindles in one direction causing said resetting arms to engage said resetting cams and causing said pinion to be disengaged from said number wheels, pivotal movement in the opposite direction causing said resetting arms -to disengage said resetting cams and causing said transfer pinion to re-engage said number wheels.

9. A counting device comprising a plurality of number wheels, a first shaft on which said number wheels are mounted for rotation thereabout, gear means on said number wheels, a second shaft, a plurality of transfer pinions mounted for rotation on said second shaft, wheel and gear locating means, a plurality of lugs on said locating means for engaging marginal portions of said transfer pinions, said lugs being spaced apart by the Width of a number wheel so that opposite edges of adjacent lugs engage marginal edge portions of said number Wheels, resetting cams on said number Wheels, resetting arms on said locating means and brackets on said locating means for pivotally mounting said locating means in said device and for carrying said second shaft, said locating means being movable between a rst position in which said transfer pinions mesh with said gear means on said number Wheels and a second position in which said transfer pinions are disengaged from said gear means and said resetting arms act on said resetting cams to reset said number Wheels.

10. A device as defined in claim 8 which includes resilient means biasing said pinion toward engagement with the number wheels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner S. A. WAL, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

